ekans #23
Type Matchups
Weak to (2x damage):
Resistant to (½x damage):
ekans
Generation I · #0023 — Snake Pokémon
Ekans, the Snake Pokémon, is a Poison-type creature that serves as one of the most iconic serpentine Pokémon introduced in Generation I. With a National Pokédex number of #23, Ekans is renowned for its stealthy movements and predatory nature in grassy environments across various regions. Standing at 2.0 meters in length and weighing only 6.9 kilograms, this slender reptile is deceptively lightweight despite its considerable size. Ekans is known for its peaceful demeanor in most situations, boasting a base happiness value of 70, though trainers should approach wild specimens with caution due to their natural predatory instincts. The Pokémon has maintained consistent popularity since its debut, appearing frequently in trainers' teams and various media throughout the Pokémon franchise.
Base Stats
Height
2.0m
Weight
6.9kg
Category
Snake Pokémon
Gender
Male 50% / Female 50%
Color
purple
Shape
squiggle
Habitat
grassland
Abilities
Lowers opponents' Attack one stage upon entering battle.
Has a 33% chance of curing any major status ailment after each turn.
Prevents opposing Pokémon from eating held Berries.
Ekans Biology & Physical Characteristics
Ekans presents a distinctly serpentine appearance with a purple body adorned with distinctive yellow markings, including a thick band around its neck, large yellow eyes with slit pupils, and a prominent yellow rattle-like tail structure. Three pairs of black rings encircle its body, with additional black lines extending from each eye toward its nose, creating a pattern that aids in camouflage within tall grasses and shadowy forest environments. The Pokémon's most notable physiological feature is its ability to freely detach and unhinge its jaw to accommodate prey significantly larger than its head, a characteristic that enables it to swallow bird eggs and other substantial meals whole. However, this feeding capability comes with a caveat—consuming particularly large prey can render Ekans immobile due to excess weight, potentially causing it to become trapped or faint if unable to find suitable shelter. Interestingly, newly born Ekans lack poison in their bite, making their attack painful but ultimately harmless to potential predators, though this venom develops as the creature matures. As Ekans ages, its body continues to grow in length, a trait that distinguishes it from many other Pokémon species.
Pokedex Numbers
Training
Breeding
Ekans Breeding, Gender Ratio & Egg Groups
Ekans exhibits an perfectly balanced gender ratio of 50% male to 50% female, ensuring that trainers seeking to breed this Pokémon will encounter equal opportunities regardless of specimen gender. The species belongs to both the Field and Dragon egg groups, providing breeding compatibility with a diverse array of Pokémon species and enabling strategic breeding programs for competitive trainers. The moderate hatch counter of 20 cycles translates to approximately 4,884 to 5,140 steps required to hatch an Ekans egg, a relatively standard incubation period that places this species among the more accessible breeding projects for dedicated Pokémon breeders. Ekans' base happiness value of 70 indicates that the species bonds relatively readily with trainers, though it still requires meaningful interaction and care to reach maximum friendship. The base experience yield of 58 in modern generations (reduced from 62 in Generations I-IV) provides moderate experience gains when defeated in battle, making Ekans encounters neither particularly rewarding nor inefficient for experience grinding purposes. Breeding Ekans can yield competitive specimens with optimized natures and individual values, particularly given the species' access to various egg moves that cannot be learned through normal leveling.
Sprites
TMs & HMs
tm01
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm02
crystal
tm02
gold silver
tm03
crystal
tm03
gold silver
tm05
lets go pikachu lets go eevee
tm06
yellow
tm06
gold silver
tm06
red blue
tm06
crystal
tm06
emerald
tm06
firered leafgreen
tm06
diamond pearl
tm06
platinum
tm06
ruby sapphire
tm06
colosseum
tm06
black 2 white 2
tm06
xd
tm06
black white
tm06
heartgold soulsilver
+570 more TMs/HMs
Ekans Evolution, Mega Evolution & Special Forms
Ekans undergoes a straightforward linear evolution into Arbok upon reaching level 22, representing a significant stat distribution shift that transforms the Snake Pokémon into a considerably more formidable serpent. At level 22, Ekans evolves without requiring any special items, stones, or particular environmental conditions, making this evolution one of the most accessible in early-game progression across multiple Pokémon titles. The evolution to Arbok brings substantial increases to Attack (from 60 to 95), Defense (from 44 to 69), Special Defense (from 54 to 79), and Speed (from 55 to 80), while maintaining the same Poison typing. This evolution represents Ekans' transition from a stealthy hunter into a more aggressive predator, with the evolved form displaying enhanced combat capabilities across physical and defensive parameters. Notably, Ekans does not possess a Mega Evolution or any alternate form evolution pathways, remaining true to its original Generation I evolutionary line. The timing of this evolution at level 22 occurs relatively early in most games' progression, allowing trainers to field a substantially upgraded serpent for mid-game challenges and beyond.
Where to Find
kanto route 4
kanto
+17 more
kanto route 9
kanto
+9 more
kanto route 10
kanto
+9 more
kanto route 11
kanto
+8 more
kanto route 23
kanto
+1 more
kanto route 8
kanto
+5 more
johto route 32
johto
+6 more
johto route 33
johto
+6 more
kanto route 3
kanto
+5 more
kanto route 27
kanto
azalea town
johto
johto route 42
johto
+1 more
kanto route 26
kanto
sinnoh route 212
sinnoh
+3 more
johto safari zone
johto
+5 more
alola route 2
alola
+5 more
Ekans Behaviour and Natural Habitat
Ekans is a creature of exceptional stealth, moving silently and deliberately through grasslands, savannas, plains, and forested regions without making audible sound—a hunting adaptation that makes it a formidable predator despite its modest base Attack stat of 60. The Pokémon demonstrates remarkable sensory capabilities through its ability to flute the tip of its tongue in and out to detect both danger and potential prey scent in its immediate surroundings. Its diet consists primarily of bird eggs, particularly from Pidgey and Spearow nests, which it consumes whole thanks to its detachable jaw structure. At nighttime, Ekans exhibits a unique resting behavior, wrapping its elongated body around tree branches to sleep, or alternatively coiling itself into a tight spiral on the ground. This coiled resting position serves a defensive purpose, allowing the Pokémon to quickly respond to threats approaching from any direction with an intimidating glare from its raised head, ensuring it maintains awareness despite sleep. Such behavioral patterns reveal Ekans as a creature that has evolved sophisticated survival mechanisms suited to its role as a mid-tier predator in varied ecosystems.
Pokedex Entries
Generation I
Moves silently and stealthily. Eats the eggs of birds, such as PIDGEY and SPEAROW, whole.
The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Generation II
It can freely de tach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can be come too heavy to move, however.
It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
It flutters the tip of its tongue to seek out the scent of prey, then swallows the prey whole.
Generation III
EKANS curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. Assuming this position allows it to quickly respond to a threat from any direction with a glare from its upraised head.
An EKANS curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. This position allows it to quickly respond to an enemy from any direction with a threat from its upraised head.
A very common sight in grassland, etc. It flicks its tongue in and out to sense danger in its surroundings.
Moving silently and stealthily, it eats the eggs of birds, such as PIDGEY and SPEAROW, whole.
Generation IV
It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
It can freely detach its jaw to swallow large prey whole. It can become too heavy to move, however.
It always hides in grass. When first born, it has no poison, so its bite is painful, but harmless.
Generation V
It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
It sneaks through grass without making a sound and strikes unsuspecting prey from behind.
Generation VI
The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Moving silently and stealthily, it eats the eggs of birds, such as Pidgey and Spearow, whole.
Ekans curls itself up in a spiral while it rests. Assuming this position allows it to quickly respond to a threat from any direction with a glare from its upraised head.
Generation VII
By dislocating its jaw, it can swallow prey larger than itself. After a meal, it curls up and rests.
The eggs of bird Pokémon are its favorite food. It swallows eggs whole, so sometimes an egg gets stuck, and Ekans faints.
The older it gets, the longer it grows. At night, it wraps its long body around tree branches to rest.
Ekans Name Origin & Design Inspiration
The name 'Ekans' derives from the simple reversal of the English word 'snake,' a straightforward yet clever naming convention that has become legendary in Pokémon nomenclature. In Japanese, Ekans is known as 'アーボ' (Arbo), which itself appears to be a transliteration influenced by 'arbor' or 'arrow,' potentially referencing the Pokémon's rapid striking capability or its arboreal resting habits. The design philosophy behind Ekans reflects a commitment to creating a recognizable serpent that feels immediately threatening yet accessible as an early-game capture, with its purple coloration distinguishing it from typical snake colorations in nature while maintaining visual coherence with its Poison typing. The yellow neck band and eye markings provide distinctive visual identifiers that make Ekans instantly recognizable even at small sprite sizes, a crucial consideration for Generation I Pokémon design constraints. The rattle-like tail structure subtly references rattlesnakes, incorporating real-world serpent elements while maintaining the fantasy aesthetic of the Pokémon universe. Overall, Ekans' design succeeds in balancing biological realism with fantastical elements, creating a Pokémon that feels both grounded and imaginative.
Learnable Moves
Ekans can learn 81 moves:
Move | Type | Cat. | Power | Acc. | PP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| acid | poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 30 |
| acid spray | poison | Special | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| attract | normal | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| beat up | dark | Physical | — | 100 | 10 |
| bide | normal | Physical | — | — | 10 |
| bind | normal | Physical | 15 | 85 | 20 |
| bite | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| body slam | normal | Physical | 85 | 100 | 15 |
| bulldoze | ground | Physical | 60 | 100 | 20 |
| captivate | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| coil | poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| crunch | dark | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| curse | ghost | Status | — | — | 10 |
| dig | ground | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| disable | normal | Status | — | 100 | 20 |
| double team | normal | Status | — | — | 15 |
| double edge | normal | Physical | 120 | 100 | 15 |
| earthquake | ground | Physical | 100 | 100 | 10 |
| endure | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| facade | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| fire fang | fire | Physical | 65 | 95 | 15 |
| fissure | ground | Physical | — | 30 | 5 |
| frustration | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| gastro acid | poison | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| giga drain | grass | Special | 75 | 100 | 10 |
| glare | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| gunk shot | poison | Physical | 120 | 80 | 5 |
| haze | ice | Status | — | — | 30 |
| headbutt | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 15 |
| hidden power | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| iron tail | steel | Physical | 100 | 75 | 15 |
| knock off | dark | Physical | 65 | 100 | 20 |
| leech life | bug | Physical | 80 | 100 | 10 |
| leer | normal | Status | — | 100 | 30 |
| mega drain | grass | Special | 40 | 100 | 15 |
| mimic | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| mud bomb | ground | Special | 65 | 85 | 10 |
| mud shot | ground | Special | 55 | 95 | 15 |
| mud slap | ground | Special | 20 | 100 | 10 |
| natural gift | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 15 |
| payback | dark | Physical | 50 | 100 | 10 |
| poison fang | poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| poison jab | poison | Physical | 80 | 100 | 20 |
| poison sting | poison | Physical | 15 | 100 | 35 |
| poison tail | poison | Physical | 50 | 100 | 25 |
| protect | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| pursuit | dark | Physical | 40 | 100 | 20 |
| rage | normal | Physical | 20 | 100 | 20 |
| rain dance | water | Status | — | — | 5 |
| rest | psychic | Status | — | — | 5 |
| return | normal | Physical | — | 100 | 20 |
| rock slide | rock | Physical | 75 | 90 | 10 |
| rock tomb | rock | Physical | 60 | 95 | 15 |
| round | normal | Special | 60 | 100 | 15 |
| scary face | normal | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| screech | normal | Status | — | 85 | 40 |
| secret power | normal | Physical | 70 | 100 | 20 |
| skull bash | normal | Physical | 130 | 100 | 10 |
| slam | normal | Physical | 80 | 75 | 20 |
| sleep talk | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sludge bomb | poison | Special | 90 | 100 | 10 |
| sludge wave | poison | Special | 95 | 100 | 10 |
| snatch | dark | Status | — | — | 10 |
| snore | normal | Special | 50 | 100 | 15 |
| spit up | normal | Special | — | 100 | 10 |
| spite | ghost | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| stockpile | normal | Status | — | — | 20 |
| strength | normal | Physical | 80 | 100 | 15 |
| substitute | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| sucker punch | dark | Physical | 70 | 100 | 5 |
| sunny day | fire | Status | — | — | 5 |
| swagger | normal | Status | — | 85 | 15 |
| swallow | normal | Status | — | — | 10 |
| switcheroo | dark | Status | — | 100 | 10 |
| take down | normal | Physical | 90 | 85 | 20 |
| thief | dark | Physical | 60 | 100 | 25 |
| torment | dark | Status | — | 100 | 15 |
| toxic | poison | Status | — | 90 | 10 |
| toxic spikes | poison | Status | — | — | 20 |
| venoshock | poison | Special | 65 | 100 | 10 |
| wrap | normal | Physical | 15 | 90 | 20 |
Ekans Competitive Battle Guide
In competitive Pokémon battles, Ekans occupies a niche role that is rarely seen at advanced competitive levels due to its modest base stat total of 288, which is distributed without particular concentration in any singular area. The Poison typing grants useful resistances to Fighting, Poison, Bug, and Fairy-type moves, while leaving Ekans vulnerable to Ground and Psychic-type attacks—a significant liability in competitive environments where these types are commonly represented. Ekans' best physical stat is its Attack at 60, supported by a respectable Speed of 55, creating an awkward middle ground where the Pokémon cannot reliably outspeed faster threats nor output sufficient offensive pressure to compensate for defensive weaknesses. Its three ability options provide different strategic applications: Intimidate reduces opponent Attack upon entry, Shed Skin offers passive status condition removal with a 33% trigger rate per turn, and the hidden ability Unnerve prevents opponents from consuming held Berries. In Little Cup formats where Ekans is actually viable, the Pokémon can function as a bulky physical attacker with access to moves like Coil, Poison Powder, and Sucker Punch. However, trainers seeking competitive viability typically prefer to evolve Ekans into Arbok as soon as possible, as the evolved form's superior stats make it significantly more effective in organized battle environments.
Commonly Asked Questions About Ekans
What type is Ekans?
Ekans is a poison type Pokemon.
What does Ekans evolve into?
Ekans evolves into arbok.
What are Ekans's weaknesses?
Ekans is weak to ground and psychic type moves.
Where can I find Ekans?
Ekans can be found in kanto route 4 (kanto), kanto route 9 (kanto) and kanto route 10 (kanto) and 13 other locations.
Ekans Cultural Impact & Franchise History
Ekans achieved iconic status within Pokémon culture primarily through its prominent association with Team Rocket's Jessie, whose Ekans became one of the most recognizable character Pokémon throughout the anime series' early seasons. Jessie's Ekans evolved into an Arbok that served as a reliable member of her team across numerous episodes, establishing the evolutionary line as a villain-associated Pokémon in mainstream media consciousness. Beyond the anime, Ekans appeared in Pokémon Origins as a wild encounter Pokémon and has maintained consistent presence throughout official Pokémon media spanning multiple decades. The Pokémon's name, being a simple reversal of 'snake,' became emblematic of Pokémon's creative but straightforward naming conventions, often cited as a quintessential example of first-generation wordplay. Trading card game representations of Ekans have featured throughout the TCG's entire lifespan, with various artwork interpretations reflecting different artistic styles across generations. In the manga adaptations, particularly Pokémon Adventures, Ekans has appeared in various contexts, though rarely as a major focal point compared to its anime prominence. The species' combination of accessibility, distinctive design, and cultural associations has cemented Ekans as a genuinely beloved entry in the Pokédex despite its competitive limitations.
Where to Find Ekans in Every Pokémon Game
Ekans is remarkably available across the vast majority of Pokémon games, appearing in Kanto-based titles including Pokémon Red, Blue, Yellow, FireRed, and LeafGreen as a common wild encounter in grassy areas. In Gold, Silver, Crystal, HeartGold, and SoulSilver, Ekans is available in the Johto region with a considerably increased encounter rate in grassy environments. The species appears in X and Y within the Mountain Kalos area, providing accessibility to Kalos region players, and returns in later generations including Sun and Moon (specifically in the Alola Pokédex), Sword and Shield, and Legends: Arceus. The species maintains presence in Scarlet and Violet, appearing in Paldea's various biomes and continuing its legacy as a perpetually available Pokémon across new-generation titles. Its exceptionally high capture rate of 255 (approximately 43.9% success with a standard Poké Ball at full health) makes Ekans among the easiest Pokémon to capture in the franchise, ensuring that trainers at virtually any skill level can successfully add Ekans to their teams. The species' consistent availability across generational transitions, combined with its status as a Generation I classic, ensures that aspiring trainers seeking a serpentine companion will rarely encounter substantial difficulty in locating and capturing an Ekans, whether playing recent titles or revisiting classic generations.